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The Riot

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The Riot

By: Laura Wilson
Narrated by: Seán Barrett
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Summary

August 1958. DI Stratton has just been posted to Notting Hill. Stratton's new manor is rife with racial tension. The end of the war saw a flood of Caribbean migrants. Now, a decade later, working-class Teddy Boys are showing mounting hostility towards their black neighbours.

Notorious landlord Danny Perlmann, a Polish refugee, is taking full advantage and is making a fortune off the high rents he charges. Caught in the middle of this war over rents and turf is Irene, a young runaway on the verge of going on the game. When Perlmann's rent collector is murdered, Stratton is called to investigate.

Notting Hill is a cauldron, and Stratton is right at the heart of it.

©2013 Laura Wilson (P)2013 Isis Publishing Ltd Historical Mystery Fiction War Suspense
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Excellent period feel on this novel set in the race riots of the late 50's in Notting Hill. The dialogue was totally convincing and Sean Barrett is one of the great narrators anyway. It is totally convincing as a novel that was actually written at the time which is a great achievement. I enjoy the combo of Laura Wilson and Sean Barrett.

Great Period Feel

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I have SO enjoyed this, the last in a hugely enjoyable series! All of them have had a lovely sense of period and are interestingly plotted. They have believable characters one really cares about - and are beautifully read (as usual!) by Sean Barrett. All in all I am now in mourning! I just hope that Laura Wilson is busy writing the next one!

Loved it!

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If you could sum up The Riot in three words, what would they be?

Fifties, west indian imigrants, prejudice

What did you like best about this story?

A real feel of the period, with Rackman like landlords and prejudice against the new west indian immigrants.

Have you listened to any of Seán Barrett’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I like all his performances, one of my favourite narrators

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Racism is not new

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This is the fifth and, I believe, final part of the DI Ted Stanton series. I've enjoyed listening to the evolving story of the Stanton's life and work from 1940 to 1956. I recommend following the books in chronological order as each book carries on from where the previous one ended. The backdrop to the crimes in The Riot is the rise of the likes of Oswald Mosley and racial tensions as people from the Caribbean come to England in search of work and a better life and are confronted by prejudice and violence fomented by groups from the far right. It's an engaging story and a reminder of what immigrants had to put up with: sad that it still happens in the 21st Century.
Seán Barrett does a superb job of making the characters come alive with his remarkable ability with accents.

Another engaging story

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Time is moving on for DI Statton and an insight into changing social attitudes have been skilfully interwoven with each book's main plot throughout the series. Finding his feet on his new and very different patch Stratton is now caught up with slum landlords and racial tensions. A good thought provoking story as always brilliantly read by Sean Barrett.

An excellent series continues

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